Wheel polishing machine



Jan. 9, 1951 F. L. ARMITAGE ETAL 2,537,625

WHEEL PoLIsHING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jam 9, 1947 AND EDWIN N. BROWN ATTORNEYS Jan 9 1951 L. ARMITAGE ETAL 2,537,625

WHEEL POLISHING MACHINE Filed Jan. 9, 1947 's sheets-sheet 2 l N v E N roRsk FRANK L.A]ZMITAG E. AND EDWIN N. QODEN ATTORNEYS WHEEL POLISHING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 9, 1947 ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 9, 1951 WHEEL POLISHING MACHINE Frank L. Armitage, Fall River, and Edwin N. Broden, Assonet, Mass., assignors to The Firestone Tire & Rubber Company, Akron, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application January 9, 1947, Serial No. 720,964

2 Claims.

This invention relates to wheel-polishing mai sists of removing the overflow rinds and then n smoothing the perimeters of the wheels by buiiing the same. the polishing thereof which is effected on the perimeter and the lateral faces of the wheels. Prior to the present invention such polishing was achieved by lengthy tumbling of the wheels to obtain the desired finish thereon.

The chief objects of the invention are to provide in an improved manner for polishing articles of the character mentioned; to obtain a product having superior nish; to reduce the amount of handling of the articles; and to reduce the cost thereof. Other objects will be manifest as the description proceeds.

Of the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of apparatus embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation thereof as viewed from the left of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the apparatus.y

Referring to Figs. l and 2 of the drawings, it Will be seen that the machine comprises a centrally positioned base casting II] that supports a shelf II, and rising from opposite lateral marginal portions of the latter are superposed channels I2, I2 that support a table-like structure I3. Rising from the latter 4at spaced points longitudinally thereof are pairs of posts I4, I4, Fig. 2, each pair of which carries at the top thereof a small shelf I5 upon which is xedly mounted an upright angular arm I6. The latter has one side thereof of cancave shape formed by the juncture of two outwardly diverging faces, and in said concavity is located an elongate tubular workholding structure I1. The structure I1 is retained in engagement with each arm I6 byv a stirrup clamp I8 that straddles the arm and'embraces said structure, said clamp comprising a manually operable threaded member I9 that engages the arm on the side thereof opposite said concavity, for tightening the clamp about the tubular structure I1. The arrangement is such that work-holding structures I1 of different diameter than that shown easily and readily may be mounted for use in the machine. As is best shown in 1xig. 3, the work-holder I1 is cut away at 20, 2|! at diametrically opposite portions thereof and at two adjacent, but longitudinally spaced The final operation on the wheels is 2 regions, whereby a plurality of work-units within the holder are exposde so that work may be performed upon them. Said work units consist of Aannular discs 2| of heat-hardened plastic material, such as rubber or rubber-like composition.

The work-holder I1 extends to one end of the table I3 (the left) as viewed inFig. 1 and extends beyond ysaid table at the opposite end thereof, where it extends through a substantially closed cabinet 24. Within this cabinet the work-pieces 2| are subjected to an abrading operation that transversely iiattens their respective peripheral surfaces, that is, removes the overow rind and the crown that are present on the discs as they come from the mold. To this end a hollow base structure 25 is mounted in the lower part of the cabinet 24, and mounted atop of said base structure are spaced apart tube-supporting structures 26, 26, which structures are similar; to the structures comprising elements I4, I5, |67, I8 and I9 previously described. The work-holder I1 eX- tends through the end-wall of the cabinet 24, at the right thereof as viewed in Fig. 1, and is open so that an operator stationed thereat may manually insert work-pieces 2| into the open end of the work-holder and urge them toward the opposite end thereof. The work-holder I1 is recessed or cut away at diametrically opposite sides of a local region thereof, as indictaed by the broken lines 21 in Fig. l, to expose the work-pieces 2| in the holder, so that work may be performed thereon. To this end an endless driven belt 28 having an operative surface treated with emery or sand is provided, said belt being arranged to operate upon the perimeters of successive Workpieces 2| as the latter are exposed through one of the openings 21 in the work-holder during their progres-s therethrough; As the work-pieces are abraded by the belt 28 they are rotated'by a suitable rotary member (not shown) that engages them through the other opening 21 inthe work-holder I1. Said rotary member is carried in a frame structure 29 that is mounted upon the base 25 and is adjustable from and toward the work-holder'by means of a hand-wheel 3i).

the work-units 2| in the Work-holder I1 inthose regions where the work-units are exposed to view through the cut away portions 2|) of said holder. Through the opposed openings 20 nearest the cabinet 24 the Work'units are operated upon by an endless friction-faced propulsion belt 35 and a rotary bu composedof soitbri'stles, saidbelt and bui lbeing in opposition to each other on opposite side of the Work-holder Il and engaging the Work through respective openings Z.

I'he function of the belt 35 is to rotatethefworkfunits 2l with Which it is engaged, the direction of rotation of said Work-units beingsuch 'that the regions thereof in engagementpvrith thelbui 36 move counter to the rotation ofthebu. The buff 36 is mounted upon one end of a shaft 31 that is journaled in the free end of..a.swingablebear ing arm 33, the other end of the latter being journaled in suitable bearing brackets 39 mounted atop of table f3. A fixture 3G mounted upon the topof table i3-carriesa manually iturnablefadjustin'g screw 4l that has threaded-'engagement With- 'thearm '38, the. arrangement 'being- `such thatfthe--buff 36 maybe adjusted from or toward thevvork 2l, as desired. Thebui 35 'is covered byfa-suitable guard 42 except at the region thereof wherethe Abu. engages "the work. For rotating thebui 36", thev end of'shaftl remote from the buffficarries a pair of pulleys '43,43' about which are'trained respe'ctivetransmission belts the latter 'also being trained about respectiveV putleysf-lthatfaremountedfuponanelongatedlcountershatllSithat'ls'journaled inthe bearing-:Bracke ets V35] aforementioned. The V.pulleys 43T, "lili and belts VMlare enclosed-ina suitable guarded.. The extremity of the countershaft 6, at the right thereof as'VieWed in Figs. -1' andycarriesfa pair of pulleys 48, 48 about which are-trainedrespective Atransmission belts- 1491, 'tbe-flatter'falso lbeing trained 'about respectivepulleys 5B? that are mounted- -upon the shaft l o'fiamotor52f, *the vlatter beingmountedfupon theshelrlil. A manuallyoperable switch 53 il: provided -forcontrollinefthe .operation ofthe latter.

Mechanism for-operating upon the Work-units 2i| through tbe-aligned'apertures-*29 remoterfrom the* cabinet 245, which 'is to Ithe' leftl ofthe :apertures Ztl-'previously mentioned. asl viewed in Fig. 3, is essentially similar to vthe Amechanism `described 1in the preceding'paragraph. `Thus 'the Work iis eXpose'd'to `the action yof avrotary endlessV @friction-iaced" ipropulsion belt 55, :and'fa 'buit orbrush 5E composedof1soft bristles. The latter is mounted upon onevend .of a shaft .5.1 tthat :is ljournaled in the free-.end of a Vswinsable. bear-'- ingn arm58, the otherend ofHwhi-ch `is journaled inbeari'ng --brackets 39 iupon theftopota'ble |23; said bearling. brackets -being identical with. vthe bearing Vbrackets 139 previously 'mentioned and serving 1With the "latter as journals 'forth'e 4ooun- I tersha-ft i451; A manually rotatable adjusting screw 59--is mounteclin a 'xture .'w on topV offtableil and is Ithreaded through arm 5Bfor swinging the latter to-move theobu'f'i from and'ftoward the Work. 'The vusual guard' El .covers V,the buff 56 except at the -regionfthereo'f Where it :engages the work. For rotating thebui 56, ithe=end of shaft iSTremote 'from the bu carrieswa .pull'ey 62 about ywhich traine-da vtransmission ibelt53 that also fis. trained about-fa ypulley B4L-mounted uponrtliefadjacenti end "portion for? countershait 461. :A 1guardl encloses pulleyslf,ka-ndfrbelt 63. The arrangement is such that the-fbuis 361, 5E may be urged against the work'with different pressures,

The endless propulsion belts 35y 555 Aare-similarly mounted, and are-driven at` thesamesurface speed by a shaft 568: that lis' common ftorboth of them. Said shaft is journaled i.atits :opposite end' .portions in bearing `brackets I'69, Tilithat-.Iare

4 mounted upon the top of table I3, rearwardly 'of `the Work-.holding structure lil. The end of shaft 63 Yadjacent bracket 10 is provided With a pulley 1l about Which is trained a transmission belt 12, which belt also is trained about a pulley 131mountef1 upon an elongate countershaft 14 that is journaled in bearing brackets 15, 15 ris- `ingxroxrrthe--channel members I2 at the rear of the machine. Oneend of countershaft 14 is providedzvizith apulley 16 about which is trained a transmission beltY Tl', the latter also being trained 4abouta'pulley t8 that is mounted upon the shaft 510i motor 52.

The propulsion belts 35, are each mounted upon a pair of pulleys, the lower pulley 8G of each pairfbeingfzmourrtediupon. and:` driven by the vshaftA 68', asshown .inlbrokenflines 1in lEig. 2; fupperzpulley of each pairVfof` Whichaonezisishown Jin=21iig-r2 and, designated '81', isk rotatablymounted in the upper, free :ends of .a pair'aof. swingable 'armsaiBZg .82; which farms are fpivotallymounted 4att'heir lower .-endszupon'. the shaftjl; Each; arm 82fis sconnected,;intermediate 'its ends, -toits zoom.- panion .f armI '82 'by :a :rearwardly-wextending; yoke and-the 'latter are connected to respective manually Voperated'adjusting screws 1,84 rthat iare threaded through :respective `upstanding 'xtures :8:5thatfare:mountedA uporrtable yl 3. Theiarrangement'ris-such tirati the propulsion belts .35;` 55 7are independently'adjustable from and' toward the work.

TheV fiuictiony of thebus It', .56de todistribute polishing compound about the perimetersz'ot the Work-units 2l and'fto'polish'thelatien the action of tbextwo huisrbensidenticaliand the results beinefnumulative; Polishing compound is ap.- .plied-fto the wor-keunits:through:a circular-apertureiin ther-topaof ywork-holder said aperture fbeinghindieated by dotted'lines :82, Fig...: 3 and-being locatedin, the-Work-holder :between thecabinet 24 and the nearest opening 2Q-fin: thewor-leholder. The polishingecompoundisapplied'tothe Workfpieces; in the formoi ra spray, and to :this end a spray gun 853 is located abovesaid-.fapen ture 8.8.:in position-to discharged-hereunto. The polishing compound is a fluent substancecomprising a Waxfbase, land a blackdye adapted'to :coverzupfblemishes on-the work-pieces. Ehelpolishing liquid-reaches the spray-gun by means of a conduit 19e-.that vhas, connection i with a `reservoir of :theirliqud `under pressureY (not shown). The polishing liquid is dischargedirom the spraydgun intermittently .by means of air under pressure thatrreaches the; spraygungby Way of a conduit Sil. In-thelatter'are the usual regulating vvalves 921. andepressure Agauge 93; and4 a- Yshut @01T valve, 94 that Eiszlocated adjacent the end .of shatii-fremote, from .pulley "H', said: conduit extending to a source'of fair under.pressurefnoushowni. Amaru 95- isA mounted: :upon the' end of shaft .and adapted operatively'tofengage valve 94 Witheach revolution 'of shafti' and thusmomentarily'and periodically to `arrest the passagefof air through `conduit-.Sito the-sprayfgun 39; ,Air discharging from 'the spray, `:gun sprays :polishing liquid :upon the vwork-units .2a. 'By reason of .its-intermittent operation, thespray gunis-kept open and .clean atiall times. The air-.oflcondition of .the spray guniisofsuch shortrduration that:no.:Work-units may pass theffsarney Without being sprayed with polish.

After' being .peripherally polished, the Work units 22| areejected: :from the work-'holder vt'at thele'ftenda'thereof as viewed in Fig-s. l and :8. Mountediupon 4the itopof saidlholder l?! -and-projecting beyond the delivery end thereof is a leaf spring 98 adapted to bear upon the tops of the successive work-units 2| as they issue from said work-holder and thus to force the said units downwardly while disposed in a, vertical plane. The falling work units are received in an inclined chute 09, the upper end portion of which is lo cated at the delivery end of holder` The lower end of chute 99 is open, and located at one end of a work-guiding structure comprising a pair of horizontally disposed, parallel, channels |00, |09, the gutters of which are in confronting relation. The channels 100 extend transversely of the work-holder il, one channel being located above the other. The lower channel |90 is fixedly formed on the exposed lateral faces of the workunits as they traverse the work-guiding structure.

Work-units falling down the chute 99 land in a Vertical plane at one end of the guide structure comprising the channels I 09, and power operated means is provided for impelling a rile of the worko units longitudinally of the guide structure in a step-by-step movement. To this end a suitably shaped reciprocable head |94 is mounted on the table I3 adjacent the work-receiving end of said guide structure, the end of the head remote from the latter being connected to one end of a slidably mounted push rod |95. The other end of the latter is pivotally connected at l 96 to one end of a pitman |01, the other end of said pitman being pivotally connected to a rotary disc 198 eccentrically of the axis thereof. The disc |08 is mounted upon the end of countershaft 14, remote from the pulley 18 thereon. yThe countershaft 14 rotates constantly while the machine is in operation, thus effecting reciprocation of head |04 to move work-pieces 2| in succession through the guide structure composed of the channels |00.

As the work-units 2| traverse the said guide structure their exposed lateral faces are polished by respective rotary buffs |0, that are disposed on opposite sides of the guide structure and rotate in opposite directions. Said buffs are journaled in respective sub-frame structures I2, |3, which structures also carry respective motors l I 4, I5. The latter have driving connection with the buffs ||0, through the agency of respective transmission belts H8, '1. The sub-frames ||2, ||3 are adjustably mounted upon a supplementary frame H8 that is offset from the main frame of the machine at one end thereof, the arrangement being such that each buff and its companion motor may be moved' relatively of the Work-units in the guide structure to compensate for wear on the buffs. A manually operated switch |19 is provided for controlling the operation of the motors I4, H5.

It will be apparent that' both lateral faces of the work-units 2| are polished as said work-units progress step by step through the work-guide structure. The finished work-units fall from the open outer end of the latter and are received in any suitable receptacle thereat (not shown).

The invention provides a relatively simple apparatus for performing operations of the character described, and said apparatus readily may be altered and adjusted to accommodate workunits of different sizes. The invention eifects a saving of labor as compared to prior practise, and achieves the other advantages set out in the foregoing statement of objects.

Modification may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention, or the scope thereof as deiined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a polishing machine of the character described, the combination of a Work guide adapted to support a succession of wheels by engagement with the perimeter thereof, said work guide comprising a pair of parallel, spaced apart channel members with the channels thereof in confronting relation, one of said channels being xedly positioned, the other channel being lightly urged toward said iixedly positioned channel, said wheels disposed in the same plane in peripherally abutting relation, polishing means on opposite sides of the work guide adapted to operate on the opposite lateral faces of the wheel, and means for moving the wheels through the work guide.

2. In a polishing machine of the character described, the combination of an elongate, tubular work-holder through which a succession of small loading wheels in lateral contact with each other move in an axial direction, said work-holder being locally apertured on diametrically opposite sides thereof into exposed peripheralregions of the Work therein, an endless propulsion belt, driven by a shaft,y peripherally engaging workpieces through one of said apertures to rotate said work-pieces, and a rotary buf peripherally engaging the work-pieces through the other aperture to polish the peripheral regions of said workpieces, said work-holder having an aperture through its Wall for the entrance of a polishing fluid therein, means for intermittently injecting said polishing fluid into the work-holder, said means comprising a spray gun connected by a conduit with a source of said polish under air pressure, a shut-off valve in said conduit, camy means mounted on said shaft adapted to contact and close said valve at each rotation of said shaft.y

FRANK L. ARMITAGE. EDWIN N. BRODEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille of this patent:

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